SNOW HILL — The town board has approved a bid for automated water meters, as well as for a smelly water line replacement, and a loan to replace an additional 8,600 feet of old water lines.

The board also voted to have a study done as to whether it is cost effective to continue with the proposed intra-local water agreement for Greenville Utilities’ alternative water project. Green Engineering in Wilson will be performing the study for $26,000 starting this week.

Snow Hill customers have paid out about $1.1 million from July 2000 through June 30 to get the lines from Greenville into specific points in Greene County. Town Administrator Dana Hill said that has been accomplished.

“Before we commit to a 40-year surcharge,” he said, “we want to make sure that that’s the right choice.”

Commissioners approved Matchpoint of Wilmington to install Badger automatic water meters with the Aclara operating system for a base bid of $545,308.

The town had budgeted $714,405 for the project, which will include a system that automatically sends the meter readings to the billing office.

The meters come with a 20-year warranty and the software includes a 1-year warranty with upgrades.

Hill said construction would not begin before March, after verifying the bid package. The board may adopt the contract at its Feb. 11 meeting.

Matchpoint had some extras in its package, such as water line leak detection equipment that is compatible with the software, Hill said.

The town was approved for a 15-year, no-interest loan of $168,000 and a grant for $672,000 from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for the meter reading project.

The surplus of $169,096 could be used to purchase extra meters, take care of unforeseen problems or not borrowed, Hill said.

In addition, extra funds of $50,000 the town paid out, but were not used for a previous phase of the alternative water project, have been approved for a critical need in the town.

The funds, which were reimbursed by the N.C. Rural Center, will be used to replace 500 feet of water line on Oak Street — deemed the worst line in the town with its deteriorating lining.

The board approved Empire Construction in Winterville to replace the odorous cast iron line between Second and Third streets, Hill said.

“I don’t see why that (construction) can’t start in the next 30 days,” he said.

Numerous other lines are going to be replaced through a 20-year, no-interest loan of $656,000 from the N.C. Department of Natural Resources. Annual payments will be $32,800 with $36,895 budgeted in capital reserves and $25,000 for contingency.

“We picked out the cast iron,” Hill said, “… and galvanized lines that tend to cause the most leaks.”

Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com.